Cha, cha, cha, changin'...

IMPORTANT STAFF CHANGES
I've neglected some pretty darn important personnel announcements in the past few days, so I'll try to catch up in this entry.



MUNOZ NAMED PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
Tuesday, just before the scheduled council meeting, Costa Mesa Director of Communications, Bill Lobdell, sent out a press release announcing the promotion of Ernesto Munoz as Director of Public Services, locking up the job he's held on an interim basis for the past five months.

HATCH LAUDS MOVE
Regarding Munoz, Lobdell quotes City CEO Tom Hatch, "As he's done throughout his career with the City, Ernesto has performed well in his new assignment. His expertise, institutional knowledge and professional manner made him an easy choice to lead our Public Services Department in the coming years."

BIG JOB
According to the press release, "Munoz heads a department with 163 employees, an annual operating budget of $17.3 million and more than $400 million in City assets under its care. he replaced Peter Naghavi, who was recently promoted to a new position focusing on the City's economic development efforts."

A GREAT MOVE FOR THE CITY
Personally, I've always found Ernesto Munoz to be extremely responsive and highly professional. The City is very fortunate to have him in this position as we move forward in troubled times.

*****

CMPD STAFF CHANGES
Police Chief Tom Gazsi recently announced some organizations changes in the Costa Mesa Police Department to strengthen the organization at a time when it is being asked to do more with less.

HUGGINS AND GOGERTY
Lieutenant Allen Huggins, a 25 year veteran of the CMPD and formerly the head of the Professional Standards Bureau, was promoted to Captain and now heads up Field Operations, replacing Captain Les Gogerty, who now heads up the Support Services Division.

SCHENNUM AND GLASS
Lieutenant Tim Schennum replaces Huggins as the head of the Professional Standards Bureau and is also now the CMPD Public Information Officer (PIO), replacing long-time PIO Lieutenant Bryan Glass, who now heads up the Telecommunications Bureau.

GAZSI UP TO THE TASK
With the promotion and re-assignment of these veteran CMPD leaders, the recent extension of CMPD lobby hours to include Saturdays and the conversion to a 4/10 -3/12 hour shift configuration, Chief Gazsi has shown that he's ready, willing and able to make major organizational changes in order to meet the demands of policing our city with fewer resources.